W Zhiping, P Malmberg, BM Larsson, K Larsson, L Larsson and A Saraf
National Institute for Working Life, Solna, Sweden.

Inhalation of swine-house dust may cause an acute airway inflammatory condition (organic dust toxic syndrome). Thirty-eight healthy subjects were exposed to swine dust while weighing swine for 3 h. We studied the correlation between acute health effects and the inhaled bacterial exposure markers peptidoglycan (the main constituent of the cell walls of gram-positive bacteria, but also present in lesser amounts in gram- negative bacteria) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS; present only in gram- negative bacteria). LPS activity in airborne dust was measured with the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay (LPS(LAL)), and the total LPS was estimated from 3-hydroxy fatty acids, which were measured with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (LPS(GC-MS)). Peptidoglycan was estimated from muramic acid measured with GC-MS. The median (25th to 75th percentile) concentration of inhalable dust was 21 (16 to 25) mg/m3. LPS(LAL) was 1.2 (0.9 to 1.4) microg/m3; LPS(GC-MS) was 3.9 (2.5 to 4.9) microg/m3; and the peptidoglycan concentration in airborne dust was 6.5 (2.7 to 13) microg/m3. All exposure markers correlated significantly with an increase in serum interleukin-6. LPS(LAL) showed the highest correlation (r2 = 0.29) and total inhaled dust the lowest (r2 = 0.09). LPS(LAL) also correlated with symptoms and with an increase in bronchial responsiveness and decrease in vital capacity (VC). Peptidoglycan, but not LPS(LAL), correlated with an increase in the blood granulocyte concentration and in body temperature. The results suggest that several microbial agents in inhaled swine-house dust may contribute to acute systemic health effects.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Oppliger, N. Charriere, P.-O. Droz, and T. Rinsoz Exposure to Bioaerosols in Poultry Houses at Different Stages of Fattening; Use of Real-time PCR for Airborne Bacterial Quantification Ann. Hyg., July 1, 2008; 52(5): 405 - 412. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Michel Role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in asthma and other pulmonary conditions Innate Immunity, October 1, 2003; 9(5): 293 - 300. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. A. Pacheco, C. McCammon, A. H. Liu, P. S. Thorne, M. E. O'Neill, J. Martyny, L. S. Newman, R. F. Hamman, and C. S. Rose Airborne Endotoxin Predicts Symptoms in Non-Mouse-sensitized Technicians and Research Scientists Exposed to Laboratory Mice Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 1, 2003; 167(7): 983 - 990. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Van Gucht, K. Van Reeth, and M. Pensaert Interaction between Porcine Reproductive-Respiratory Syndrome Virus and Bacterial Endotoxin in the Lungs of Pigs: Potentiation of Cytokine Production and Respiratory Disease J. Clin. Microbiol., March 1, 2003; 41(3): 960 - 966. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Savov, S. H. Gavett, D. M. Brass, D. L. Costa, and D. A. Schwartz Neutrophils play a critical role in development of LPS-induced airway disease Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, November 1, 2002; 283(5): L952 - L962. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Romberger, V. Bodlak, S. G. Von Essen, T. Mathisen, and T. A. Wyatt Hog barn dust extract stimulates IL-8 and IL-6 release in human bronchial epithelial cells via PKC activation J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2002; 93(1): 289 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B.-M. Sundblad, L. Palmberg, and K. Larsson Bronchial Responsiveness to Eucapnic Hyperventilation and Methacholine Following Exposure to Organic Dust* Chest, July 1, 2002; 122(1): 363 - 368. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I M Wouters, S K M Hilhorst, P Kleppe, G Doekes, J Douwes, C Peretz, and D Heederik Upper airway inflammation and respiratory symptoms in domestic waste collectors Occup. Environ. Med., February 1, 2002; 59(2): 106 - 112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J Douwes, N Pearce, and D Heederik Does environmental endotoxin exposure prevent asthma? Thorax, January 1, 2002; 57(1): 86 - 90. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Schwartz The role of TLR4 in endotoxin responsiveness in humans Innate Immunity, October 1, 2001; 7(5): 389 - 393. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. A. Schwartz, W. J. Christ, S. R. Kleeberger, and C. L. Wohlford-Lenane Inhibition of LPS-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation by LPS antagonists Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, April 1, 2001; 280(4): L771 - L778. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Schwartz Does Inhalation of Endotoxin Cause Asthma? Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., February 1, 2001; 163(2): 305 - 306. [Full Text]

				C. L. S. George, H. Jin, C. L. Wohlford-Lenane, M. E. O'Neill, J. C. Phipps, P. O'Shaughnessy, J. N. Kline, P. S. Thorne, and D. A. Schwartz Endotoxin responsiveness and subchronic grain dust-induced airway disease Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, February 1, 2001; 280(2): L203 - L213. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. J. Quinn, S. Taylor, C. L. Wohlford-Lenane, and D. A. Schwartz IL-10 reduces grain dust-induced airway inflammation and airway hyperreactivity J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2000; 88(1): 173 - 179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. D. Blanc Husker Days and Fever Nights : Counting Cases of Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome Chest, November 1, 1999; 116(5): 1157 - 1158. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. N. KLINE, J. D. COWDEN, G. W. HUNNINGHAKE, B. C. SCHUTTE, J. L. WATT, C. L. WOHLFORD-LENANE, L. S. POWERS, M. P. JONES, and D. A. SCHWARTZ Variable Airway Responsiveness to Inhaled Lipopolysaccharide Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 1999; 160(1): 297 - 303. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. O'Sullivan, S.-E. Dahlen, K. Larsson, B.-M. Larsson, P. Malmberg, M. Kumlin, and L. Palmberg Exposure of healthy volunteers to swine house dust increases formation of leukotrienes, prostaglandin D2, and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine Thorax, December 1, 1998; 53(12): 1041 - 1046. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. Palmberg, B.-M. Larsson, P. Malmberg, and K. Larsson Induction of IL-8 production in human alveolar macrophages and human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro by swine dust Thorax, April 1, 1998; 53(4): 260 - 264. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P. F. J. VOGELZANG, J. W. J. van der GULDEN, H. FOLGERING, J. J. KOLK, D. HEEDERIK, L. PRELLER, M. J. M. TIELEN, and C. P. van SCHAYCK Endotoxin Exposure as a Major Determinant of Lung Function Decline in Pig Farmers Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 1997; 157(1): 15 - 18. [Abstract] [Full Text]